JD Sansaver's Shovelhead Chopper

We met JD Sansaver on EDR II in 2008, and the creative fabricator and dedicated chopper fanatic has been a faithful friend ever since. On a busy Tuesday afternoon before Thanksgiving JD dropped everything to handcraft an intricate component for my own never-ending motorcycle project. During that visit I got to marvel at JD's work space and personal quiver of hand-built death traps.

Part one of this two-part Flying Monkey Factory expose takes a look at the proper chopper FSK affectionately calls The Electric Watermelon.

Year, make and model of frame: one-off FMF, 4 up, no out with 40-degree rake. The motor and tranny are tilted back in the frame

Year, make, model and mods on motor: stock 84” shovel with some engraving by FMF

Fork specs: old Denver’s, a total piece of shit. I had to rebuild the whole thing

Thanks: Caleb Owen at Cro Customs. We did our frames at the same time and if I can’t figure something out he always comes to the rescue. Cro’s a great riding buddy and a good friend

Back story: I had a near death experience on this bike in New York during this year’s Gypsy Run. I hit a pothole and bounced about a foot off the ground. I broke some spokes, mangled the fender mounts and snapped some sprocket bolts. My life literally flashed before my eyes. New York is a fucked up place to ride fast and crazy, but it was an adventure

Next week we'll give you a behind-the-scenes look at JD's shop, and let the man paint his backstory in another installment of ChopCult's "21" interview.

I hate jockey shift and I hate Caleb Owens (that has nothing to do with the bike, but needed to be said). Yet I love the watermelon and JD. We literally just finished three days of work resurrecting a bent-ass, presumably 1946 knuckle frame. JD made it work, bringing a lost soul back to chopper life. His work is amazing, among the best. The watermelon reflects that and the level of craftsmanship he possesses.